In making the call, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi noted that Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem had instructed all Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs in Sarawak to oppose the proposed bill moved by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy, in a statement, reminded the people about the assurances given by the government when it amended Article 121 (1) (A).
The amendment said: “The courts referred to in Clause (1) shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the shariah courts.” Clause (1) refers to the civil courts.
“We can see how non-Muslims are being bullied and forced to seek justice in the shariah court,” he said. “The civil court has abdicated its jurisdiction to the inferior shariah courts.”
Waythamoorthy was commenting on “a mysterious briefing” on Tuesday for Muslim MPs by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He attributes the stress on Islam by the BN to the “racist agenda” beginning to fail as more Malays were opposing Umno and associating themselves with the opposition.
Taking former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad as a case in point, he said: “He has called for Umno-BN to be defeated. Umno has realised it can no longer rely on a racist agenda.”
Hence, he feels, the ruling coalition is now resorting to religion and hudud law in a ploy to win back Muslim support.
“It appears that BN and PAS have compromised on the punishment cap,” said the Hindraf chief. “Earlier, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang wanted no punishment cap.”
Under a “win-win formula”, he continued, it was agreed to raise the punishment ceiling to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan. “That would be the punishment cap.”
Waythamoorthy pointed out that the maximum life sentence that can be passed by a civil court was 25 years.
However, he added in the statement, “The proposed 30 years sentencing powers for shariah courts exceed what a civil court can mete out”.
Waythamoorthy commented on the views of two MPs, a non-Muslim and a Muslim, in his statement.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad was reported to have said there appeared to be a conspiracy among Muslim MPs against non-Muslim MPs, in commenting on the “mysterious meeting” called by Zahid.
“This is a valid point,” agreed Waythamoorthy. “There should be no reason for this mysterious briefing for Muslim MPs.”
He said it was shocking that Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar Devaraj had urged the people to respect Hadi’s Private Member’s Bill “to empower the shariah courts”.
The non-Muslim MP felt it was the right of every community in Malaysia to decide how it wanted to practise its religion.
“He’s wrong to support Hadi’s bill,” said Waythamoorthy.
The notion that the proposed amendment to Act 355 would not affect non-Muslims did not arise, he said.